Every style of music has its own flavor. We identify with a sound or feel of music. However what is in the music we listen to and play that gives it this distinctive behavior? What is it that makes blues guitar riffs or a rock a bill lick so different? How do we reach a particular sound?

Well I Guess the easiest answers is the scale or melody you decide to base your song around. For example if you use the major scale such as the major pentatonic scale you tend to get a more upbeat almost happy type of sound. Much of southern rock type of music is based around the major pentatonic scale. However when looking for a dark type of sound you will find many players use a minor scale such as the minor pentatonic scale.

So if you are looking for a blues type of sound your best bet would be to use the blues scale. Many new comers to guitar playing are shocked to find out there is such a thing as the blues scale let alone a getting blues riffs but there is.

The blues scale is a derived from the minor pentatonic scale with the use of the blues note. The blues note is a note that is added to the minor pentatonic scale to give that scale this bluesy or sad feel. The note that is used to create the blues scale is called the blues note. This note is a flatted fifth from the minor pentatonic scale that is added to the minor pentatonic scale to create this unique type of melody.

This is a look at the Blues Scale the ( b) are the added Blues notes:

|–x–|—–|—–|–x–|

|–x–|—–|—–|–x–|

|–x–|—–|–x–|-b–|

|–x–|—–|–x–|—–|

|–x–|-b–|–x–|—–|

|–x–|—–|—–|–x–|

So we have a picture of what the blues scale is and where it came from. The great blues legends will build their licks and leads off of this scale.

Look at this classic BB King riff:

|—–8—–8———|————-8—9—10—10—–10-|

|—————10—-|—–10———————————-|

|———————–|——————————————|

|———————–|——————————————|

|———————–|——————————————|

|———————–|——————————————|

So this is a look at the blues guitar riffs and the blues scale. Use this powerful scale and licks and add them to your arsenal. This can give your sound a fresh feel. Use these riffs with other scales and watch how full diverse your leads will become.